EU migration deal welcomed by UN agencies

In a joint statement, the UN Migration Agency (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNCHR) said that while the finer detail of the accord needs to be examined, they “stand ready to support a common approach”.

‘No problem’: Tsipras cool with Germany sending migrants back to Greece to ‘share the burden’

Athens “doesn’t care” if some migrants return from Germany to Greece as part of a possible deal with Berlin, PM Alexis Tsipras said. His words are in sharp contrast with the mood on Greek islands overwhelmed by the migrant influx.

Border crossing of Spielfeld: Austria simulates response to migrants in border exercise

Several hundred Austrian police officers and soldiers have performed an exercise on the country's southern border with Slovenia to simulate different responses to any repeat of the 2015 migrant crisis.

Italian Deputy PM: Very Existence of United Europe to be Decided within the Year

Ahead of the EU summit, where the latest disagreements within the bloc over migration policy are expected to be on the agenda, Italy lambasted Paris for “lecturing” Rome and resisted Germany’s plans to turn away refugees which have been registered in other countries.

Call for EU solidarity ahead of migrant summit

All EU countries need to help southern neighbours, where most migrants are arriving, European Commissioner Guenther Oettinger has said.

Turkey halts migrant re-admission deal with Greece

Turkey suspended its migrant re-admission deal with Greece days after Athens released from prison eight Turkish soldiers who fled their country after a 2016 attempted coup.

Hungary to penalise NGOs that aid illegal immigrants

Individuals or groups who help migrants not entitled to protection to submit requests for asylum or who help illegal migrants to gain status to stay in Hungary will be liable to jail under a new bill submitted to parliament.

Over 100,000 Migrants Cross Med to Europe since January: UN

More than 100,000 migrants and refugees have made the perilous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe since the beginning of the year, and 2,247 have died trying, the UN said Tuesday.

Nearly 200 asylum seekers feared dead off Libya coast

Eleven migrants have died and nearly 200 are missing after two boats carrying asylum seekers sank off the coast of Libya, UN agencies said on Monday citing survivors.

Mediterranean migrant deaths in 2016 reach record 3,800

The UN refugee agency said Wednesday that at least 3,800 migrants have died in the Mediterranean Sea so far this year in an attempt to reach Europe, making 2016 the deadliest year on record.

At least 42 dead after boat carrying 600 migrants capsizes off Egypt coast

At least 42 people died Wednesday as a boat carrying 600 migrants capsized off the coast of Egypt, officials said.

Turkey will block EU migrant "deal" if no visa-free travel, says Erdogan

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday warned the European Union that the Turkish parliament would block laws related to the landmark deal to stem the flow of migrants to Europe if Ankara was not granted its key demand of visa-free travel.

EU has largely ‘abandoned’ Greece to deal with migrant crisis on its own, UN expert warns

UN, 17 May 2016 – The suffering of migrants in Greece is the result of a complete absence of long-term vision and the clear lack of political will of the European Union (EU), a United Nations human rights expert said today, warning that Greece, already struggling to cope with fiscal challenges, has been abandoned by the EU to deal with a crisis that requires a response from all countries in the region.

Austrian Leader Quits as Anti-migrant Mood Spreads

Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann abruptly resigned Monday, two weeks after his center-left Social Democratic Party's presidential nominee was drubbed in first-round elections by an anti-immigration far right candidate.

Migrant crisis: Austria passes controversial new asylum law

Austria has passed a controversial new law that restricts the right of asylum and allows most claimants to be rejected directly at the border.

4,000 migrants rescued in Strait of Sicily in two days - Italy coastguard

Some 4,000 migrants have been rescued from boats in the Strait of Sicily between Tunisia and Italy in the past two days, Italy's coastguard said.

Bulgarian "volunteers" filmed tying up migrants. Bulgarian Border Police chief says Migrant-hunting ‘somewhat illegal’

Amateur video shot in Bulgaria shows "volunteers" arresting three migrants and tying their hands behind their backs as they lie on the ground.

Migrant crisis: Greece halts deportations to Turkey

Greece paused deportations of migrants to Turkey on Tuesday, a day after the first boats took back 202 people under a controversial EU plan to cut off a migrant route to Europe.

EU must help FYROM [***] seal border with Greece - Slovak PM

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico vowed Wednesday to push the European Union to stem the influx of refugees into the bloc by sealing the border of non-member FYROM [***] with Greece.

Belgium reinstates France border checks over Calais 'Jungle' fears

Belgium on Tuesday said it had temporarily reintroduced border controls with France to halt the arrival of migrants from the Calais "Jungle" camp, in a new blow to the EU's passport-free travel area.